Agenda item

The Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance submitted a report providing a summary of the risk management activity over the last 12 months which contributed to the assurances the Committee required as part of the Annual Governance Statement process.  The report also took a forward look at the work planned for the current financial year.

The report outlined the progress with the roll-out of the new Risk Management System that had gone ‘live’ on the 7^th May, 2021, gave details of the support provided by the Corporate Governance and Assurance Manager, indicated the number of risks and strategic risks on the register and provided details of how these were reviewed.

The Cabinet had approved the Risk Management Policy and Framework in June 2021 and a session was planned for June 2022 to undertake a detailed review of all strategic risks.  Thereafter, the Register would be shared with Cabinet on a bi-annual basis.

The report then outlined the outcome of the review of the Risk Management System which had been really positive and went on to give details of proposed future developments during 2022/23 to take account of, amongst other things, the outcome of the feedback from the evaluation, an update of risk guidance documentation, the continuing embedding of the regular review of risks into a ‘business as usual’ approach within management teams, the development of risk management materials on the POD system and ensuring that organisational changes were reflected in the risk system.

In the ensuing discussion, particular reference was made to the following:

·         Following the review, work was ongoing to make system improvements, and these were being pursued with IT colleagues and with Business Intelligence Teams

·         In response to specific questioning, the Head of Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance gave an explanation of how both strategic and non-strategic risks were identified together with the ways in which the non strategic risks were monitored to ensure that issues identified were suitably addressed.  In this context reference was made to the work of SMT and individual Business Units in identifying and managing risks.  Arising out of this discussion, Julie Chapman, Service Director Adult Social Care and Health, confirmed that appropriate discussions were held within Departmental Management Teams to examine existing and emerging risks in order to ensure that appropriate arrangements were in place to manage those risks

·         The Head of Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance reported that Internal Audit (lead by Sharon Bradley (Principal Auditor)) would be undertaking an audit of the risk management arrangements shortly and this would enable a view to be taken as to how well those arrangements were embedded within the organisation

RESOLVED that the report be noted as a contribution to the assurances given in relation to the Council’s governance arrangements.